Alabama church arsonist finishes federal sentence

Published: Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 13, 2012 at 11:19 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM | Convicted church arsonist Russell Lee DeBusk Jr. has finished his federal prison sentence and is now scheduled to serve two years in an Alabama prison.

A spokesman for the Alabama prison system said DeBusk, 25, completed his federal sentence Thursday in Texas and is being held by Texas authorities for an extradition hearing to return him to Alabama, where he faces a two-year sentence. His attorney is seeking to reduce his state sentence.

DeBusk pleaded guilty to helping two fellow Birmingham college students burn five churches in 2006. He got a seven-year sentence, but it was reduced due to good behavior in prison. Two others, Benjamin Moseley and Matthew Cloyd, got longer sentences because investigators tied them to nine church burnings. Their federal sentences end in 2013.

<p>BIRMINGHAM | Convicted church arsonist Russell Lee DeBusk Jr. has finished his federal prison sentence and is now scheduled to serve two years in an Alabama prison. </p><p>A spokesman for the Alabama prison system said DeBusk, 25, completed his federal sentence Thursday in Texas and is being held by Texas authorities for an extradition hearing to return him to Alabama, where he faces a two-year sentence. His attorney is seeking to reduce his state sentence. </p><p>DeBusk pleaded guilty to helping two fellow Birmingham college students burn five churches in 2006. He got a seven-year sentence, but it was reduced due to good behavior in prison. Two others, Benjamin Moseley and Matthew Cloyd, got longer sentences because investigators tied them to nine church burnings. Their federal sentences end in 2013.</p>